American Red Cross Guide to Services

1 American Red CrossGuide to ServicesMission of the American Red CrossThe American Red Cross , a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to Red Cross Guide to ServicesEach and every day, the more than 600 chapters and 36 Blood Services regions of the American Red Cross provide assistance and resources to communities across the United States.

2 This American Red Cross Guide to Services will help you learn more about our five major lines of it is a hurricane or a heart attack; a call for blood or a call for help, the American Red Cross is there. 2 The American Red Cross is chartered by Congress. Under the Congressional Charter, the organization s mission is defined, as is its governance structure (36 300101, et. Seq.). The charter also codifies that the American Red Cross and its chapters are a single national corporation organized to help fulfill United States treaty obligations under the Geneva Conventions.

3 The charter mandates that the Red Cross maintain a system of domestic and international disaster relief, and entrusts the organization to serve as a medium of communication between members of the military and their families. In May 2007, the American National Red Cross Governance Modernization Act ( 110-26) was enacted into law. This legislation amended the Red Cross Congressional Charter for the first time in 60 years. While the American Red Cross works closely with governments at all levels, it is an independent, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. In one of its first disaster relief operations, the American Red Cross set up feeding stations and provided medical care after the Johnstown, Pa.

4 , flood in Red Cross Photo ArchivesThe American Red Cross is a network of n More than 600 locally supported 36 Blood Services 7 Blood Services 58 Service to the Armed Forces Nearly 20 International Red Cross Congressional Charter3 American Red CrossFor more than 125 years, the mission of the American Red Cross has been to help individuals and families prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. The Red Cross provides disaster relief assistance to those affected by natural and human-caused disasters. Every day through the American Red Cross , people mobilize to help their neighbors.

5 More than half a million volunteers and 30,000 employees of the Red Cross , many from communities like yours, help provide these life-changing and often lifesaving Services . The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on generous donations of time, money and blood to do its work. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian Services and programs. Governed by volunteers and supported by voluntary donations, the American Red Cross is a network of n More than 600 locally supported 36 Blood Services 7 Blood Services 58 Service to the Armed Forces Nearly 20 International Red Cross provides a unique, community- based network focused on the following five major areas of service.

6 Helping Disaster Victims People affected by disaster need to know that they have a place to stay, food to eat and emotional support as they take the first steps to recovery. Each year, the American Red Cross responds to more than 70,000 disasters nationwide. While the vast majority of these disasters are single-family and apartment home fires, the American Red Cross stands ready to support all affected in their immediate emergency needs. In addition to those individuals affected by a disaster, the American Red Cross provides immediate support to first responders.

7 Through our Red Cross chapter network, we are able to participate in federal, state and local government agency disaster planning exercises and response efforts. We work closely with FEMA as co-leaders of the mass care portion of emergency Support Function #6 of the National response Framework. The Red Cross also partners with community organizations and corporate supporters to provide emergency shelter, food and health and mental health Services as well as resources and referrals to aid in recovery. Connecting the Armed Forces With Their Families Long separations caused by military service create special needs for military families.

8 The Red Cross provides support to active-duty military members, National Guard and Reserve members, veterans and their families. We also provide emergency communication Services , support for the sick and wounded at military and veterans hospitals and assistance in obtaining emergency financial Lifesaving SkillsAmerican Red Cross training and educational programs help to save lives and empower people to respond to disasters and other life-threatening emergencies. The American Red Cross helps ensure that individuals, families and organizations are prepared for disasters and other life-threatening emergencies through developing and implementing lifesaving training and education programs and materials.

9 More than 15 million people each year gain lifesaving skills and preparedness information including first aid, CPR and the use of defibrillators through their local Red Cross chapter. As a result, our communities are safer because of Red Cross , Testing and Supplying Blood Across Our NationFor more than 50 years, the American Red Cross has been committed to ensuring the availability of the safest possible blood and blood products to help meet America s blood needs. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion. Thanks to the generosity of its almost 4 million blood donors, the American Red Cross is the largest single blood supplier in the United States.

10 4 Partnering in International Services The American Red Cross is one of more than 180 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies worldwide that are devoted to alleviating human suffering wherever it is found. The members of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation) and the Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies work together toward common goals during times of crisis or disaster. As a national society, the American Red Cross works within this framework to help provide Services for the world s most vulnerable people.